The J. Mark and Nancy Schrag Environmental Science Scholarship Endowment Fund

J. Mark Schrag entered Goshen College in the fall of 1963 and graduated with a degree in Biology in 1967, after two older siblings, Keith and Mary, graduated from GC in 1960 and 1962 respectively. He then went on to do further study in Soil Physics at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, he met Nancy Davis to whom he was married until her death in August 1997.  While Mark was working for the Michigan Department of Transportation as an environmentalist in the areas of transportation, historic preservation, and soil science he and Nancy decided to open their first store in the Lansing, MI area, selling home decorating items, gifts, leather goods, cards and other unique, quality merchandise.

Mark was later quoted as saying “Nancy and I made a good team because she was the merchandiser.  She was the one with the broad view, the good eye for merchandising and how to display it.  I was more the technical, back-office office person.”  In 1979, their store, named Seasons, expanded and started carrying furniture as well.  It was at this same time that Mark decided to step away from his work with the Michigan Transportation Department and devote himself to working full-time with Nancy in the store.  Their store became known throughout the state of Michigan for offering trendsetting merchandise along with providing exceptional customer service.  After Nancy’s death in 1997, Mark continued to operate Seasons with the help of some additional capable staff and management.  He too died at the relatively young age of 65 in May, 2010.

Mark was known for his honesty, integrity, business acumen, compassion, humility, faith, hard work, service to others and his quick wit.  He served on the Michigan Retailers Association Board for years and also served on the Goshen College Alumni Board from 2002-2005.  Both of these involvements were very meaningful to him.  While the focus of their business was in the retail sector, Mark never lost sight of what he had learned through his biology and environmental science studies.  He and Nancy placed a high value on caring for the environment and attempted to operate their business by applying as many sustainable business practices as they could.  With their gift to Goshen College, they clearly wanted to encourage today’s students to learn and have appreciation for such sustainable business practices.